The Chief of Zingu in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, Nuhu Yuoni, has appealed to the government and development partners to urgently address the numerous challenges confronting his community, warning that residents continue to suffer from poor access to healthcare, inadequate water supply and deteriorating road infrastructure.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kangyiri Radio, the chief said the lack of essential social amenities has affected the livelihoods and well-being of residents for many years.
Nuhu Yuoni described the absence of a health facility in Zingu as one of the community’s biggest challenges, saying pregnant women have been the hardest hit.
According to him, at least five women have lost their pregnancies due to delays in accessing medical care outside the community.
“We do not have a health facility in Zingu. Because of that, five women have lost their pregnancies. For nearly ten years, our people depended on the health facility at Charia, but now whenever we go there, patients are often referred to Wa for treatment,” he said.
He explained that the referrals to Wa increase travel time and transportation costs, placing additional hardship on families seeking emergency healthcare.
The chief also raised concerns over the poor state of road infrastructure, particularly a bridge that links the community.
He said the bridge has been washed away three times after previous rehabilitation works, disrupting movement between Zingu and neighbouring communities. Although it has been reconstructed again this year, he stressed that a more durable solution is needed to prevent recurring damage.
Before the latest reconstruction, residents were forced to travel through Charia before reaching Wa whenever the bridge became impassable.
Nuhu Yuoni further highlighted another challenge affecting education in the community. He said a river located near the Zingu Junior High School frequently overflows during the rainy season, preventing both teachers and students from accessing the school.
“Our appeals for the construction of a bridge across the river have not yielded any results. Whenever it rains heavily, children cannot attend school and teachers are also unable to cross,” he lamented.
He added that the community also lacks a Day Nursery, compelling parents of young children to make difficult arrangements for childcare while they work.
The chief further expressed concern about the community’s inadequate access to potable water.
According to him, residents rely largely on a single borehole located at Zingu Guahi, but the facility breaks down frequently, worsening the water crisis.
“The entire community depends on one borehole, and whenever it develops a fault, people struggle to get safe drinking water,” he said.
Nuhu Yuoni appealed to the government, the Wa Municipal Assembly, non-governmental organisations and other development partners to prioritise the needs of Zingu by investing in healthcare, education, road infrastructure and water supply.
“We are facing many challenges, and we need them to be addressed.“
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